316L Stainless Steel

metal

austenitic stainless steel

UNS S31603EN 1.4404DIN X2CrNiMo17-12-2AISI 316LSS 316L

316L Stainless Steel 3D printed component

Density

7.99 g/cm³

YS (LPBF as-built (XY))

450–560 MPa

UTS (LPBF as-built (XY))

580–700 MPa

Elongation (LPBF as-built (XY))

30.0–55.0 %

Elastic modulus

193 GPa

Thermal conductivity

14.0 W/m·K

Composition — UNS S31603 / ASTM F3184-16

Element	Min %	Max %	Notes
Fe	bal.		balance
Cr	16.00	18.000
Ni	10.00	14.000
Mo	2.00	3.000	Key for pitting resistance — differentiates 316 from 304
Mn	—	2.000
Si	—

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Mechanical & thermal properties — 6 conditions

Property	LPBF as-built (XY)	LPBF as-built (Z)	LPBF as-built, machined surface (XY)	LPBF stress-relieved (XY)	LPBF solution-annealed (XY)	LPBF + HIP (isotropic)
Elastic modulus	193 GPa	—	—	—	—	—
Yield strength (0.2%)	450–560 MPa	420–530 MPa	—	440–540 MPa	200–270 MPa	190–250 MPa
Ultimate tensile strength	580–700 MPa	540–640 MPa	—	560–660 MPa	500–570 MPa	490–560 MPa
Elongation at break	30.0–55.0 %	25.0–50.0 %	—	32.0–55.0 %	45.0–65.0 %	50.0–70.0 %
Reduction in area	65.0 %	—	—	—	—	—
Hardness (HV)	200–260 HV10	195–255 HV10	—	190–250 HV10	140–175 HV10	135–170 HV10
Fatigue strength	160–240 MPa	—	250–330 MPa	—	—	240–320 MPa
Density	7.99 g/cm³	—	—	—	—	—
Thermal conductivity	14.0 W/m·K	—	—	—	—	—
Specific heat	500 J/(kg·K)	—	—	—	—	—
CTE	16.5 µm/m·K	—	—	—	—	—

Values shown as min–max where a spread is reported, otherwise as typical ± unit. Ranges reflect inter-source variation, not single-sample scatter. All values are for AM-processed specimens unless noted.

Engineering considerations

Residual stress: 316L has high CTE (16.5 µm/m·K) and low thermal conductivity — large overhangs and solid blocks accumulate significant residual tensile stress. Use island scan strategy with interlayer rotation (e.g., 67°).
Anisotropy: 5–15% strength reduction in Z vs XY. For load-critical parts, orient the primary load axis in the XY plane.
Sensitisation risk is negligible in LPBF: low carbon content (≤0.03%) and rapid cooling prevent Cr₂₃C₆ precipitation at grain boundaries during AM thermal cycles.
HIP decision: for fatigue-critical parts, HIP at 1100°C / 100 MPa / 4h eliminates sub-surface porosity and substantially extends fatigue life. Expect 30–50% cost premium.
Post-processing sequence for corrosion-critical parts: LPBF → stress-relieve (650°C/1h) → rough machine → solution anneal (1050°C/30 min, water quench) → finish machine → electropolish.
Binder jetting note: BJ 316L requires sintering at ~1360°C with ~15–20% linear shrinkage. Final density 98–99.5% — acceptable for structural but not pressure-critical applications without additional qualification.
Electropolishing: removes 20–50 µm material; smooths Ra from ~10 µm to <0.5 µm. Essential for food-contact, pharmaceutical, and hygienic fluid applications.
Powder degradation: limit re-use to 20–30 cycles without blending into virgin powder. Monitor oxygen content — O > 0.10% signals degradation and elevated sensitisation risk.
Wall thickness: minimum printable wall ~0.3 mm; for structural load ≥0.8 mm recommended. Thin walls below 0.5 mm show higher porosity due to keyhole instability at edges.

Advantages

Excellent corrosion resistance across wide pH range — superior to 304 in chloride environments due to Mo content
As-built LPBF strength significantly exceeds wrought 316L minimum specifications
Fully austenitic — non-magnetic (critical for MRI-adjacent medical equipment and sensitive electronic environments)
Outstanding toughness at cryogenic temperatures down to -196°C (liquid nitrogen service)
Good biocompatibility — ISO 10993 compliant for surgical instruments and implant-adjacent structures
Well-established LPBF parameter sets available from all major machine OEMs — shortest time-to-print of any AM stainless
Cost-effective feedstock compared to titanium or nickel superalloys
Excellent powder flowability — high sphericity, minimal satellites, consistent layer spreading

Limitations

Annealing eliminates the AM strength advantage — post-HT strength approaches wrought levels; re-specifying to wrought may be more cost-effective
Susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in hot (>60°C) concentrated chloride environments — use duplex 2205 or super-duplex for such media
Low thermal conductivity (14 W/m·K) causes high thermal gradients and residual stress — warpage risk on large flat sections without scan strategy optimisation
Not hardenable by heat treatment (austenitic) — for high-strength applications use maraging steel, 17-4PH, or Ti-6Al-4V
As-built surface roughness (Ra 10–20 µm) incompatible with hygienic applications without post-machining and electropolishing
Pitting corrosion resistance (PREN ~24) below super-duplex grades — review PREN = Cr + 3.3×Mo + 16×N against aggressive media
Powder re-use must be controlled — oxygen and nitrogen pickup with repeated cycling degrades corrosion resistance and ductility

Typical applications

Heat exchangers and manifolds with complex internal channelsImpellers and pump components (corrosion-resistant)Surgical instruments and medical device housingsStructural brackets, mounts, and housingsTooling and fixtures for corrosive environmentsChemical reactor internals and fluid handling hardwareCryogenic vessel components and cold-plate structuresNuclear handling and containment hardwareOffshore and subsea connectors (industrial / energy sector)Food-contact and pharmaceutical processing equipment (post-polished)

Standards & certifications

ASTM-F3184established

316L (UNS S31603) parts produced by powder bed fusion — composition, powder, and minimum mechanical property requirements

aerospacemedicalindustrialenergy

ISO-52904established

Process quality assurance framework for safety-critical metal PBF parts

aerospacemedicaldefence

ASTM-E8established

Tensile test method for acceptance testing of AM 316L

aerospacemedicalindustrial

ASTM-E466established

Force-controlled fatigue testing for rotating and cyclic applications

aerospaceindustrialenergy

316L Stainless Steel

Composition — UNS S31603 / ASTM F3184-16

Mechanical & thermal properties — 6 conditions

Engineering considerations

Advantages

Limitations

Typical applications

Industries

Standards & certifications

Compatible AM processes (5)

Other metal materials

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